Parasitism and the expression of sexual dimorphism

Ecology and Evolution
Stephen P De Lisle, Locke Rowe

Abstract

Although a negative covariance between parasite load and sexually selected trait expression is a requirement of few sexual selection models, such a covariance may be a general result of life-history allocation trade-offs. If both allocation to sexually selected traits and to somatic maintenance (immunocompetence) are condition dependent, then in populations where individuals vary in condition, a positive covariance between trait expression and immunocompetence, and thus a negative covariance between trait and parasite load, is expected. We test the prediction that parasite load is generally related to the expression of sexual dimorphism across two breeding seasons in a wild salamander population and show that males have higher trematode parasite loads for their body size than females and that a key sexually selected trait covaries negatively with parasite load in males. We found evidence of a weaker negative relationship between the analogous female trait and parasite infection. These results underscore that parasite infection may covary with expression of sexually selected traits, both within and among species, regardless of the model of sexual selection, and also suggest that the evolution of condition dependence in males may...Continue Reading

Associated Datasets

Jan 16, 2015·Locke Rowe, Stephen P. De Lisle

References

Oct 22, 1982·Science·W D Hamilton, M Zuk
Sep 1, 1995·The Korean Journal of Parasitology·D I ChungD K Lim
Mar 5, 1996·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·D J Able
Mar 19, 1999·The Quarterly Review of Biology·A P MøllerE Lux
Apr 18, 2002·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Jens Rolff
Mar 29, 2005·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Russell Bonduriansky, Locke Rowe
Jan 9, 2007·The American Naturalist·Russell Bonduriansky
Mar 28, 2009·Ecology·Kristine L Grayson, Henry M Wilbur
Jan 27, 2012·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Lukas SchärerGöran Arnqvist
Sep 20, 2012·Frontiers in Zoology·Kristine L GraysonErica J Crespi
May 14, 2014·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·S P De Lisle, L Rowe
May 31, 2014·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Susan L Balenger, Marlene Zuk

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Dec 15, 2015·The American Naturalist·Stephen P De Lisle, Locke Rowe
May 19, 2017·Ecology and Evolution·Stephen P De Lisle, Locke Rowe

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
PCA
PCAs

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.